India reiterates to Qatar that terrorism is a threat to all

new delhi — During top-level discussions last weekend, India told Qatar that terrorism, violent extremism and religious intolerance “pose grave threats not only to regional stability but also to global peace and order.”

India’s views on the need to eliminate terrorism were unequivocally conveyed by ministers and officials to Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, during wideranging talks the External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, had with her Qatari counterpart in New Delhi.

The Foreign Minister had travelled to New Delhi looking for support for Qatar’s positions on its dispute with mainstream Gulf states, including the UAE, but officials in the capital told WAM that he failed to get such support from the Indian leadership.

According to Raveesh Kumar, Spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs, instead, India had sought assurances from Qatar about the “continued safety, welfare and well-being of the Indian community” in the country, which is 630,000 strong.

The Indian side were also briefed on Qatar’s labour laws in view of concerns in India about the welfare of Indian workers in Qatar in view of uncertainties in the wake of its disputes with countries in the region.

India said “Peace and security in the Gulf are of paramount importance for the continued progress of the region,” according to a statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. — Wam